Wesley Financial Group Lawsuit: Chuck McDowell’s March Onwards

Chuck McDowell, President & CEO of Wesley Financial Group, fought against a lawsuit filed by Wyndham against him. You may hear about Wesley Financial Group lawsuit and hear about our leader, Chuck McDowell, fight against big timeshare fraud. Before he became our leader at Wesley Financial Group, lawsuit stress was something that Chuck McDowell took in stride. He knew that he couldn’t give up his fight against Wyndham. Today, he heroically continues to fight against timeshare fraud that is perpetuated by some in the timeshare industry.

Taking A Step Back Might Be Good

When we think about how to move forward in sticky situations, sometimes it helps to take a step back. Before Chuck McDowell had to fight Wyndham, he took a step back from his position working in the timeshare industry. That step back has helped countless individuals fight timeshare fraud, as he has used what he learned in that industry to help those who have been duped by deceitful timeshare companies. In an article written in Forbes.com, Ian Altman discusses why “Backing up is not the same as backing down.” We can see that what Altman proposes fits with the struggles that many face when they contact Wesley Financial Group. Lawsuit and all, Chuck McDowell overcame his obstacles to successfully lead Wesley Financial Group. Lawsuit and more didn’t stop Chuck McDowell from becoming a successful leader in the timeshare advocacy industry.

Altman’s article begins, “In a society that celebrates great accomplishments and stresses constant advancement, taking a backward step can be deflating. It’s easy to think that our steps backward are a sign of failure. Yet all is not lost. In fact, exclusively moving forward is rarely the best route to reach a goal. When we encounter an obstacle on our journey (in business or in life), we often apologetically state that we took two steps forward, and one back. However, what if that step back is what allows us to step forward?” (Altman, 2018). When we think of how our leader Chuck McDowell started off in the timeshare industry and realized that he couldn’t stand by as innocent people were duped; we see how at that time, some may have viewed his decision to leave that industry as stepping back. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. By leaving the timeshare industry, Chuck McDowell was able to use his skills to help those that are taken advantage of by deceitful timeshare companies and their sales representatives.

Everest and More

Altman discusses how taking a step back can be beneficial by comparing it to climbing Everest. Altman states,” I had the good fortune to speak with Alison Levine recently. In addition to being a bestselling author and an amazing professional speaker, Alison led the first women’s expedition to Mount Everest. She has reached the highest peak on every continent and visited the North and South Poles. This feat is known as the Adventure Grand Slam. She’s perfectly suited to these frigid, death-defying challenges — aside from surviving three heart surgeries and having a condition that causes her blood vessels in her hands and feet to collapse in cold weather, of course.” (Altman, 2018). When we think of every challenge in life, it is easy to see it as a mountain. Altman’s message about stepping back fits perfectly with the Everest example he provides.

Altman continues, “Alison explained that you don’t climb a mountain like Everest by just moving forward. It takes 10 days just to get to Base Camp, which is over 17,000 feet above sea level. After a few days, you take on the incredible challenge of ascending to Camp One. After you reach Camp One, you then (wait for it) descend to Base Camp. After days of recovery at Base Camp, you climb to Camp 1 and sleep there. Then you go camping 2. Then, you guessed it, you come back to Base Camp. “Even though you are going backward, you are still making forward progress,” Alison explained.”” (Altman, 2018). It’s fascinating to learn that the way to climb the highest mountain in the world necessitates moving backward. Chuck McDowell is the President & CEO of Wesley Financial Group. A lawsuit and other obstacles never stopped him from doing the right thing. Although he started out in the timeshare industry, and it may have seemed like a step backward to move into the timeshare advocacy industry, it was actually a great decision.

Altman continues to discuss the take on Everest, “Alison explained that they stayed focused by simply knowing the goal. The goal in their case was not to “stand on the top of a pile of rocks and ice,” as she described Everest. Rather, the goal was to ensure that everyone finished the expedition alive and in good health. Without that perspective, they might have been devastated by each setback. As long as they came off the mountain alive, they were successful.” (Altman, 2018). Chuck McDowell knew he had to do the right thing when he discovered that people were being taken advantage of in the very industry that he started working for. He knew that he must make the right decision, so he started in the timeshare advocacy industry. Like those on an expedition to Everest, he had the right goal in mind.

Altman emphasizes an important lesson:” Backing up is not the same as backing down”, according to Alison. Just as she walked her team back to base camp each time she scaled a portion of Mount Everest, you might need to take a step back in your career or with a business pursuit if you realize that your current path forward isn’t the best route to reach your goal. Taking that first step in what seems like a backward direction, however, can be terrifying.” (Altman, 2018). Chuck McDowell’s step back from the timeshare industry was a step forward not only for Chuck, but the entire timeshare advocacy industry. Surely, Chuck McDowell continues to help people overcome timeshare fraud with Wesley Financial Group.

Altman states, “Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg was right when she told her readers to view their career as a jungle gym instead of a ladder. When we focus single-mindedly on “advancement” in one field, we might overlook opportunities to take our talents somewhere we’d enjoy more because we’re scared of descending our proverbial mountain and taking a less prestigious position. But if you take a good, hard look at yourself, you’ll almost always realize that passion is more important than prestige.” (Altman, 2018). Thank goodness our leader Chuck McDowell stood up against Wyndham when they attacked him with a lawsuit. Now, Chuck McDowell is the President & CEO Wesley Financial Group. A lawsuit and other threats didn’t stop Chuck McDowell from following the right path. Although some people may have thought that Chuck McDowell was moving backward when he left the timeshare industry, he knew he was doing the right thing.

Wesley Financial Group: Lawsuit v. Pursuit

As the article continues, we see how Altman’s article aligns with Chuck McDowell’s journey into the timeshare advocacy industry. As Altman states, “You’re doing everyone a favor when you back up to rise again in another field. Not only do you enhance your own life by pursuing something you enjoy, but you also inspire your clients and the company you keep by staying humble and focusing on the area where you can best help others. Accomplishing your goals, big or small, internal or external, is a lot like climbing Mount Everest. Sometimes you have to take a few steps back before you can effectively move forward.” (Altman, 2018). Chuck McDowell’s pursuit of the doing the right thing may have seemed like a step backward to those who didn’t see the fraud that was being committed by some in the timeshare industry. Yet, Chuck McDowell rose above and left that industry. Today, he’s using his skills to lead Wesley Financial Group in the timeshare advocacy industry.

Altman, Ian. (August 7, 2018). Backing Up Is Not the Same as Backing Down. www.forbes.com, https://www.forbes.com/sites/ianaltman/2018/08/07/backing-up-is-not-the-same-as-backing-down/#767cb6452205